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San Francisco, CA- We have talked about how Larry Holmes had a hard road to hoe in following Muhammad Ali. That being said, if there was ever a main event that could not live up to the semi-main, it was Thomas Hearns & Wilfred Benitez having to enter the ring after Wilfredo Gomez and Lupe Pintor. The exact date was December 3, 1982, Ronald Reagan was in the White House, with the wirehaired wonder Don King promoting this card at the Louisiana Superdome.MEET LUPE PINTOR FOLKS

Before we get to the fight, let’s water the plant first. Lupe Pintor was a “rugged” Mexican fighter who went 12-1, 9 KOs in Mexico before coming to the Great Western Forum and meeting Albert Davila in February 1976. In a battle of bantamweights that would both go on to win World titles, Davila prevailed via unanimous decision.

INTER STABLE FIGHT WITH ZARATE

Losing a couple of decisions along the way, Pintor was matched with the great Carlos Zarate (54-1, 53 KOs, only loss to Gomez) in Las Vegas on June 3, 1978. I believe they were both managed by Cuyo Hernandez, and Zarate a top five P4P guy at the time was not going to re-sign with Hernandez. After 15 rounds, judges Harold Buck and Art Lurie both saw it 143-142 Pintor, while Bob Martin scored the fight, are you ready, 145-133 for Zarate. That’s 12-3 in rounds! Feeling he had been screwed, Carlos would retire and not fight again for seven years.

Los Angeles, CA- “Bad”Chad Dawson (31-1, 18*KOs) vs. Bernard Hopkins (52-6-2, 32 KOs), in a bout for the WBC light heavyweight (175 lb.) title, turned out worse than what the boxing pundits expected. After an uneventful round 1, Chad Dawson slammed Hopkins while in a clinch at 2:48 seconds into round 2. Clearly in the replay it appeared to be a foul, although unintentional. Hopkins seemed to have hurt his shoulder due to the unexpected fall. However in a controversial turn of events, Dawson wins by TKO because Hopkins could not continue. An examination at a local hospital revealed a serious shoulder-collarbone injury, thus Hopkins was not faking it as Dawson claimed.

Dawson to Hopkins-"Hopkins you're a p*****. You ain't a gangster. Because a gangster would get up and fight!" Photo-Raye Ramos for Ringtalk.com

Golden Boy promotions plans to file a protest with the California State Athletic Commission in regards to the decision rendered. Dawson who rightfully wanted to win the fight the honorable way said to Bernard when he was on the canvas, “Hopkins you’re a p****. You ain’t a gangster. Because a gangster would get up and fight!” At the post fight press conference the new WBC champion stated, “I wanted to thank Hopkins for making it an easy fight for me.”

In a fabulous round 11 Mexico’s Antonio De Marco (25-2-1, 19 KOs)came back from a huge deficit on the scorecards to stop batter an already bloodied Jorge Linares (31-2, 20 KOs) to win the vacant WBC lightweight (135) title. Linares, a Venezuelan now boxing out of trainer Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Gym, outboxed De Marco throughout most of the contest, however the Mexican was game. Linares, who had cuts on the bridge of the nose and eye, took a lot of clean shots in round 11, but fought back bravely. Close to the end of the round after taking a number of clean shots the referee halted the contest. “This is a fairy tale story after eating out of the garbage… This night is my dream come true. From the bottom of my heart I say to never stop fighting for your dreams.” said De Marco after the victory.

Las Vegas, NV- I love fighters and I love the fight game. And while I pontificate occasionally about how the sport (and it’s participants) has at the very least not kept pace with it’s contemporaries, if not regressed, one thing has not changed; for every Klitschko brother, Bernard Hopkins, Andre Ward, there are dozens if not hundreds of boxers who fight for peanuts on under cards or in walk-out bouts.

New York, NY- Although the fight has not been signed, it looks like Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1 38 KOs) has a solid shot at becoming Manny Pacquiao’s (53-3-2 38 KOs) next opponent. But Marquez must first defeat David Diaz (36-3-1 17 KOs) in July, before getting his third shot at the current ‘pound for pound’ king. A third match between JMM and the Pacman seems made to order as Marquez is one of the only opponents to give Manny any trouble in recent years despite being unable to defeat him. But that was a few years ago. With all things considered, could the outcome be any different today?

San Francisco, CA- Without a doubt, Manny Pacquiao has become “the darling” of the boxing world. Having risen from poverty to that of a multi millionaire, the Filipino Congressman has surpassed all expectations of even his most ardent followers. From 107 lbs., titles at 112, 122, 130, 135, 140, 154*, and now 147, there is no way you can sell him short. But in all honesty, in all of the aforementioned weight classes, Pacquiao has been never been the “undisputed” champion.

GREAT FIGHTERS OFTEN TAKE CURVY ROAD TO TOP

That doesn’t mean he is not a great fighter, as certainly his near 11 year run with only one defeat, which he avenged twice to Erik Morales, the man from General Santos City, is “Mr. Boxing.” But in his last three fights, Pacman, like it or not has “milked” that lofty position by fighting boxing’s version of The Three Stooges, Larry, Curly and Moe, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, and a fortnight ago, “Sugarless Shane” Mosley. Only the weight drained and pugilistic disgrace Margarito even made any attempt at winning.

New York, NY- As M.M.A. soars in popularity, and boxing’s heavyweight division not bringing forth any excitement of late, we boxing aficionados could have been in trouble. But thanks to the smaller guys, and a rivalry that’s given us fight fans so many great fights over the years, boxing will never die. People say once the heavyweights are gone boxing is over, maybe there is a little truth to that. What the game can’t afford to lose is a rivalry which is full of both history and die hard fans. This rivalry took on a life of its own in the early in the 1970s and is still going strong.

BOXING HAS BEEN INGRAINED IN THE HISPANIC CULTURE

Wilfredo Gomez

Mexico has produced 110 champions, while Puerto Rico has 61. Both are proud of their champions. Many were or are heroes to them. For a champion to really be appreciated he has to show the fans what he’s made of. Hispanic culture demands their boxers leave there hearts in the ring. The only way out is a decision or on your shield, anything less is a crime. Some recent examples, Nicaragua’s Ricardo Mayorga (29-8-1, 23 KOs) got bombarded by rocks and insults when he lost to Puerto Rican Felix Trinidad (42-3, 35 KOs) because they felt he gave up. After the infamous “No Mas” (no more) it took Roberto Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) a while to be forgiven by his people.

San Francisco, CA- Yeah, if I was Manny Pacquiao, I wouldn’t want Nonito Donaire on my undercards. Not before last night, and certainly not after! Philippine born Donaire pushed his record to 25-1, 19 KOS) with yet another classic left hook that defending champ Fernando Montiel could not recover from. I mean, we’re talking, bang, one shot heard around the world just like the 2007 Donaire KO of Vic Darchinyan. I’ve been trying to tell you all how good Donaire is. Yes, he is superior to Manny Pacquiao technically, but the Filipino boxing fan casts Nonito aside because Manny is a God. Well guess what, the Philippines has two boxing Gods, and Nonito Donaire is one of them!

Los Angeles, CA- In 2009, the current WBO/WBC bantamweight (118 lbs) champion, Mexico’s Fernando Montiel (44-2, 34KOs) stepped in the ring against awkward and rangy puncher Alejandro Valdez (23-5-3, 17 KOs). The 5’8′ 1/2 Valdez was knocked down in the first round. However in the second, Montiel was dropped by a vicious uppercut, but the referee somehow botched the call and did not administer the mandatory 8-count. Fernando who was cut in the first round (apparently by a punch), luckily escaped a potential loss in the third when the bout was stopped when the cut was made worse by legal blows. In effect, a technical draw was rendered as the fight did not exceed four rounds and the cut was ruled to be caused by an accidental foul.

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES FAVOR “FILIPINO FLASH”

Based on the 5’4 Montiel’s apparent difficulty with fighters that are lanky and have a distinct height advantage, (think of his cautious spilt decision loss to the 5’7 1/2 Jhonny Gonzalez (47-7, 41 KOs) in 2006), he should have his hands full with the supremely skilled and dynamic potential Filipino superstar, by way of San Leandro CA, Nonito DonaireRead more

San Francisco, CA- With Manny Pacquiao being the “king of boxing,” other Filipino fighters with world championship skills are getting attention and at the same time taking the boxing world by storm. The newest Pinoy fighter that has people talking is lightweight (135 lbs) Mercito Gesta. Born in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, the unbeaten lightweight (135 lbs.) is being promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Don Chargin, an architect of world champions for over 60 years, and at 82, Chargin thinks Mercito has “the goods.”

HUNGRY & CRAVING WORLD TITLE SHOT

On Friday night, Gesta puts his unblemished record of 20-0 (10 KOs) on the line at San Francisco’s famed Fisherman’s Wharf, the Longshoreman’s Hall arena, in a ten round main event against Mexican mauler Genaro Trazancos (22-13, 13 KOs). The fight will be carried live on Telefutura TV, the Spanish TV network starting at 10 PM ET this Friday, February 18, 2011.

San Francisco, CA- In recent history, boxers like Muhammad Ali, Ray Leonard, and a few select others have been guests of the President of the United States. Sometimes it was a photo op, other times there was actual dialogue between Ali and Gerald Ford. Now on February 15, Manny Pacquiao, the most popular boxer in the universe by far will have a one on one meeting with President Barack Obama at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

San Francisco, CA- If I have ever said anything good about ex-Arizona Boxing Commissioner and currently indicted Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ) Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, it was that she had a big fat ass! Her derrière is so large that one of her constituents took aim at Wilcox with a gun and hit her dead center in the butt! The reason why I can make light of this shooting is three fold. 1. Mary Rose survived. 2. The wound was not life threatening. 3. She escaped serious injury because the bullet couldn’t go through the abundance of junk (fat) she has in her trunk.

I’M SURE YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS CRAP!

Mary Rose Wilcox’s husband, Earl Wilcox, who as an aide to then Governor Janet Napolitano (now head of Homeland Security) walked into the chambers of Judge Carlos Mendoza with boxing promoter Peter McKinn. Not only did Peter McKinn have an outstanding arrest warrant issued by Mendoza’s court. Wilcox, according to Mendoza, intimidated him, threatened his court’s budget, and all but told him if he Read more

San Francisco, CA- For those of us that have followed the corruption involving ex-Arizona boxing chief John Montano, Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Wilcox and their failed attempt to destroy trainer Joe Diaz, “Yory Boy” Campas, and to a lesser extent myself, the days of smelling roses are forthcoming! You see, McKinn has a sentencing hearing on February 7 realting to all but the two Felonies he has not copped to! The reason McKinn has not come all the way clean is that as he admitted on tape, the putz is protecting the aforementioned Mary Rose Wilcox and her husband Earl Wilcox, a one-time advisor to Governor Janet Napolitano, from criminal prosecution for their procuring and then submitting fraudulent, defamatory and libelous documents to the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.

ARE THEY ALL GOING TO TAKE THE 5TH AMENDMENT?

What can John Montano say? “I used my position of authority and purposely f****ed over Read more

San Francisco, CA- My sporting a 30 inch waist and weighing under 170 lbs. can all be attributed to fitness guru Jack LaLane. The 96-year old died yesterday. I met him twice, once I was all ripped up for a fight and he was impressed. And if you can impress Jack LaLane, then you have indeed done something special.